BEFORE NIGHT FALLS

2000

Artist Julian Schnabel("Basquiat") has written and directed a creative and moving film (some will call it a masterpiece,) about the life of Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas, who lived and wrote during the repressive regime of Fidel Castro. Brilliantly acted by Spanish actor Javier Bardem, with cameos by Sean Penn and Johnny Depp. Some, including me, might find the director's story-telling style distracting. The story is told in a series of detailed vignettes (similar to the way Arenas writes,) rather than in a linear narrative. It becomes an impressionistic mosaic of images; some extremely poetic...others, simply confusing. The film is worth seeing for the incredible acting. Look for awards to come out of this one, especially for Javier Bardem, who has already received "best actor" awards from the Venice Film Festival, the National Board of Review, etc.

4 Stars

NJB